Senior middle blocker Maci Murdock looks ahead to a whirlwind European trip that is capped by the European Global Challenge, July 14-17 in Pula, Croatia.

July 8, 2014

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - As part of the first-ever Mountain West All-Star Volleyball Team, junior middle blocker Maci Murdock left Tuesday to join her team to compete in several matches in Europe, including the European Global Challenge tournament.

The Turlock, Calif., native was selected as part of a 12-member squad that will travel and compete on Tuesday, July 8 through Saturday, July 19, 2014.

The squad first travels to Bologna, Italy for two days of training on Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by three days of friendly matches in Slovenia and Croatia vs. a Mixed Slovenia National/Junior National Team on Thursday, the Croatia National Team on Friday and the Slovenia Junior National Team on Saturday.

Afterward, the team will compete in the European Global Challenge on Monday-Thursday, July 14-17 in Pula, Croatia. The event includes Junior National Teams from Slovenia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary and Russia and club teams from Italy, Serbia, Austria and Romania.

Overall, the MW All-Star Team features two setters, one libero, four middle blockers and five outside hitters from eight of the 11 MW member institutions.

Murdock, the `Dogs' top returnee from 2013, led the team and ranked eighth in the MW and 69th nationally with her .350 hitting percentage (also the team's third-best season mark in school history). She also paced the team in blocks last year (0.90 per set average), and ranks top 10 career-wise for Fresno State in hitting (.329), block assists (eighth, 264) and total blocks (ninth, 291).

The squad features players from eight MW teams, including three All-MW selections from last year - New Mexico outside hitter Julia Warren, Colorado State middle blocker Kelsey Snider and San José State outside hitter Hanah Blume. San Diego State head coach and 2012 MW Coach of the Year Deitre Collins-Parker will lead the team and is joined by New Mexico assistant coach J.J. Glavan and SDSU director of operations Julie Parker.

The squad will be providing periodic updates throughout the trip on TheMW.com website and will be using the social media hashtag #MWVBAllStar14.

The tour is organized by Bring It Promotions and owner Tim Kelly who has run the Global Challenge tournament for 10 years, while BIP has been coordinating overseas university tours since 1997.